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When Search Changes the Headline: Google’s AI Experiment
Google is reportedly using AI to change the headlines of news stories on search results pages.
The move to alter original headlines from those written by news outlets has sparked debate over how much influence Google has on the news.
The tech giant said this new feature is a "small and narrow experiment", according to Digital Trends. Google aims to improve "how well search results match user queries and increasing engagement."
The Mountain View-based company hasn’t released any other information on the new feature, but it has publishers spooked.
The Verge noted that over the last several months, certain article headlines were tampered with by Google Search.
The machine-generated headlines appeared when the publication’s articles were viewed on the search results page.
The main concerns expressed by publishers were that this practice could change the meaning of the headline and the original article. Altering the headline could also change the tone or remove the nuance from what the writer intended.
A headline is the gateway to the story. It determines whether the story is read and how it’s understood. A headline is one of the most important ingredients when writing a story, as it tells readers what the story is about, and it needs to grab attention in a crowded news environment.
Lastly, it frames how the story is understood. Google might think it’s helping publishers by altering a headline to better match search results, match user queries, and increase engagement. However, it removes one of the fundamental rights of free speech and impinges on the freedom of the press.
It’s hard to disagree with 9to5Google’s parting shot to the news of Google’s experiment. Changing headlines to increase pageviews "almost defeats the purpose of the way Search works in the first place."